High permeability layered films to reduce noise in high speed interconnects

ABSTRACT

An electronic system includes apparatus having a transmission line circuit with an associated high permeability material. The high permeability material may include a layered structure of a nickel iron compound.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/930,657, filed Aug.31, 2004, which is a Divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/099,217 filed onMar. 13, 2002, which applications are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits. Moreparticularly, it pertains to structure and methods for improvedtransmission line interconnections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The metal lines over insulators and ground planes, or metal lines buriedin close proximity to dielectric insulators and used for integratedcircuit interconnects are in reality transmission lines or strip lines.The use of coaxial interconnection lines for interconnections throughthe substrate in CMOS integrated circuits can also be termedtransmission lines or strip lines. Interconnection lines on interposersor printed circuit boards can also be described as transmission lines.

The low characteristic impedance of any of these lines, transmission,strip lines or coaxial lines results in part from the low characteristicimpedance of free space, Zo=(μ_(o)/ε_(o))^(1/2)=377 ohms, and in partfrom the dielectric material used for electrical insulation in the lineswhich has a higher dielectric permittivity than free space. Mostcommonly used coaxial lines have an impedance of 50 ohms or 75 ohms, itis difficult to achieve larger values. In the past these effects havenot received much consideration on the integrated circuits themselvessince the propagation speed with oxide insulators is 15 cm/ns andswitching speeds on integrated circuits of the size of a centimeter havebeen slower than 1/15 ns or 70 picoseconds. Transmission line effectsonly become important if the switching time is of the same order as thesignal propagation time. Switching times in CMOS circuits have beenlimited by the ability to switch the capacitive loads of long lines andbuffers, and charge these capacitances over large voltage swings toyield a voltage step signal.

Most current CMOS integrated circuit interconnections rely on thetransmission of a voltage step or signal from one location to another.FIG. 1 illustrates R-C limited, short high impedance interconnectionswith capacitive loads. The driver may simply be a CMOS inverter as shownin FIG. 1 and the receiver a simple CMOS amplifier, differentialamplifier, or comparator.

As shown in FIG. 1, the CMOS receiver presents a high impedancetermination or load to the interconnection line. This is problematic inthat:

(i) the switching time response or signal delay is determined mainly bythe ability of the driver to charge up the capacitance of the line andthe load capacitance,

(ii) the line is not terminated by its characteristic impedanceresulting in reflections and ringing,

(iii) large noise voltages may be induced on the signal transmissionline due to capacitive coupling and large voltage swing switching onadjacent lines, the noise voltage can be a large fraction of the signalvoltage.

The transmission of voltage step signals only works well if theinterconnection line is short so that the stray capacitance of the lineis small. Long lines result is slow switching speeds and excessive noisedue to capacitive coupling between lines.

FIG. 1 shows the commonly used signal interconnection in CMOS integratedcircuits, where voltage signals are transmitted from one location toanother. This is problematic in that the interconnection lines arenormally loaded with the capacitive input of the next CMOS stage and thelarge stray capacitance of the line itself. The response time isnormally slow due to the limited ability of the line drivers to supplythe large currents needed to charge these capacitances over largevoltage swings. These times are usually much larger than the signaltransmission time down the line so a lumped circuit model can be used tofind the signal delay, as shown in FIG. 1.

In the example here the output impedance of the source follower is 1/gm=1000 ohms, and a line 0.1 cm long will have a capacitance of about0.2 pF if the dimensions of the line are about 1 micron by 1 micron andthe insulator or oxide thickness under the line is 1 micron. Thisresults in a time constant of 200 pS and it takes about 400 pS to chargethe line from 10% to 90% of the final voltage value. This is arelatively slow response.

Furthermore, if two interconnection wires are in close proximity thenthe voltage swing on one line can induce a large voltage swing or noisevoltage on the adjacent line as shown in FIG. 1. The noise voltage isjust determined by the capacitance ratios, or ratio of interwirecapacitance, Cint, to the capacitance of the interconnection wire, C.

In prior art these can be comparable, as shown, and depend on theinsulator thickness under the wires and the spacing between the wires.Therefore, the noise voltage can be a large fraction of the signalvoltage if the wires are in close proximity and far removed from thesubstrate by being over thick insulators. The emphasis in prior art hasalways been in trying to minimize the capacitance of the interconnectionline, C, by using thick insulators and low dielectric constantmaterials.

Thus, there is a need to provide a solution for these types of problemsfor CMOS-scaled integrated circuits. Due to the continued reduction inscaling and increases in frequency for transmission lines in integratedcircuits such solutions remain a difficult hurdle. For these and otherreasons there is a need to reduce noise in high speed interconnections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the commonly used signal interconnection in CMOS integratedcircuits, where voltage signals are transmitted from one location toanother.

FIG. 2 illustrates one technique to minimize the interwire capacitance,Cint, by using an intermediate line at ground for shielding.

FIG. 3A illustrates signal transmission using correctly terminatedtransmission lines and current sense amplifiers, according to theteachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates two interconnection lines in close proximity and theinterwire capacitance between these lines and the mutual inductancecoupling between the lines.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of neighboringtransmission lines above a conductive substrate, according to theteachings of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for an interconnection on an integratedcircuit according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment for a pair of neighboring transmissionlines, according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment for a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment for a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment for a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment for a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment for a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment for a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram which illustrates an embodiment of a systemusing line signaling according to teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram which illustrates another embodiment of asystem according to teaching of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in whichis shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describesubstantially similar components throughout the several views. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilizedand structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The terms wafer and substrate used in the following description includeany structure having an exposed surface with which to form theintegrated circuit (IC) structure of the invention. The term substrateis understood to include semiconductor wafers. The term substrate isalso used to refer to semiconductor structures during processing, andmay include other layers that have been fabricated thereupon. Both waferand substrate include doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxialsemiconductor layers supported by a base semiconductor or insulator, aswell as other semiconductor structures well known to one skilled in theart. The term conductor is understood to include semiconductors, and theterm insulator is defined to include any material that is lesselectrically conductive than the materials referred to as conductors.The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined onlyby the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents towhich such claims are entitled.

FIG. 2 illustrates one technique to minimize the interwire capacitance,Cint, by using an intermediate line at ground for shielding. Thistechnique is disclosed in a co-pending application by a common inventor,Dr. Leonard Forbes, entitled “Novel Transmission Lines for CMOSIntegrated Circuits,” Ser. No. 09/364199. The same is incorporatedherein by reference.

Also, as disclosed in issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,852 by Dr. LeonardForbes, entitled “Current Mode Interconnects on CMOS IntegratedCircuits,” low impedance transmission lines such as those which exist onCMOS integrated circuits are more amenable to signal currentinterconnections over longer interconnection lines. U.S. Pat. No.6,255,852 is incorporated herein by reference. These longerinterconnection lines may be on the CMOS integrated circuit itself, aninterconnection line between integrated circuits mounted in a module asfor instance a memory module, an interposer upon which these integratedcircuits are mounted, or on a printed circuit board upon which theintegrated circuits are mounted. If the line is terminated with a lowinput impedance current sense amplifier then the line can be regarded asa transmission line terminated with the characteristic impedance of theinterconnection line. This is advantageous in that:

(i) the signal delay depends only on the velocity of light on the lineand is easily predictable and reproducible, eliminating or allowing forcompensation for signal and/or clock skew,

(ii) there are no reflections at the receiving end of the line and thisminimizes ringing,

(iii) noise signals will be smaller due to weaker coupling between linesresulting in better signal to noise ratios, the noise current will onlybe a small fraction of the signal current. The transmission of currentsignals rather than voltage signals is more desirable at high speeds,and in high speed or high clock rate circuits over longerinterconnection lines. A CMOS circuit might for instance use acombination of techniques, conventional voltage signals over shortinterconnections with little coupling between lines and current signalsover longer interconnections and where lines might be in closeproximity.

FIG. 3A illustrates capacitive coupling between low impedance terminatedinterconnection lines. FIG. 3A illustrates signal transmission usingcorrectly terminated transmission lines and current sense amplifiers,such as those disclosed in issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,852 by Dr. LeonardForbes, entitled “Current Mode Interconnects on CMOS IntegratedCircuits.” The signal interconnection or transmission line is terminatedby the matching impedance of the current sense amplifier. This means theimpedance looking into the sending end of the transmission line willjust be the characteristic impedance of the line and the signal delaydown the line will just be the small propagation delay down the line.The response time of the source follower being used as a line driverwill be determined primarily by the longer rise time of the inputvoltage. This driver will supply a signal current whose rise time isbasically just that of the input voltage signal.

FIG. 3A also illustrates the coupling to another signal line in closeproximity, in this case the coupling will be both magnetic through theinduced magnetic fields and mutual inductance and capacitive coupling.The noise current induced will be shown to be only a fraction of thesignal current or the signal to noise ratio is high. Once received thissignal current is converted back to a signal voltage by the currentsense amplifier at the receiving end of the line. Since the signalpropagation time is small, the signal delay time will in practice belimited by the rise time of the signal to the gate of the sourcefollower. Since the gate capacitance of the source follower is smallthis can be very fast.

Other methods to minimize capacitive coupling between lines use lowdielectric constant materials or insulators, or ground shields, such asshown in FIG. 2. In the present invention, it is desirable to use verylow impedance lines, it is also desirable to keep the capacitivecoupling between lines small and the magnitude of voltage steps on theinterconnection lines small. The current step will induce a voltage stepat the load which is the magnitude of the load impedance times thiscurrent step. This voltage step while small, 1 mA times Zin in thisexample, still can induce a capacitively coupled noise signal on anadjacent line.

FIG. 3A shows an integrated circuit 300 in which a first transmissionline, strip line, or coaxial line 301A interconnects circuit components,e.g. a driver 310 to a receiver 320. FIG. 3A illustrates a firsttransmission line 301A over a conductive substrate 305. Conventionally,a voltage signal (i.e. a 5 volt signal swing) is provided by the driver310 to the transmission line 301A. The schematic illustrations in FIG.3A demonstrate that the transmission line 301A includes a smallresistance, shown generally by resistor symbols 302A, 302B, . . . ,302N. Also, the transmission line 301A includes a distributed inductance(L) which is represented generally by inductor symbols 303A, 303B, . . ., 303N. In one embodiment, the driver 310 may be an inverter 310 and thereceiver 320 may be an amplifier 320. Capacitor plate symbols 304 (C)are used to schematically represent the capacitive coupling which occursbetween the transmission line 301A and the conducting substrate 305. InFIG. 3A, a second transmission line 301B is shown. Capacitor platesymbols 306 are used to schematically represent the capacitive coupling(Cint) which similarly occurs between the first transmission line 301Aand neighboring transmission lines, e.g. second transmission line 301B.

FIG. 3B illustrates two interconnection lines in close proximity and theinterwire capacitance between these lines and the mutual inductancecoupling between the lines. (See generally, H. Johnson, “High-SpeedDigital Circuits: A Handbook of Black Magic,” Prentice-Hall, 1993; andS. Ramo, J. R. Whinnery and T. Van Duzer, “Fields and Waves inCommunication Electronics, 3rd Ed.,” John Wiley, New York, 1994).Although the interconnection lines on integrated circuits might tend tobe more square than round, the concepts involved can be mostconveniently described and formulas approximated by assuming forsimplicity that the lines are round or circular. Approximate formulashave been developed describing round wires over conductive planes or twowires in close proximity, in this case they are interconnection wires ona CMOS integrated circuit, interposer, or printed circuit board.

In FIG. 3B the illustrated pair of interconnect, or transmission lines,301A and 301B, displayed in a perspective view, are separated from aconducting substrate 305. The transmission lines, 301A and 301B arespaced a distance (h) from the conducting substrate 305 and a distance(s) from one another. The transmission lines, 301A and 301B, are shownin a circular geometry, each with a diameter (a). Some generalcharacterizations can be made about the transmission lines, 301A and301B, in an environment floating or suspended in air. First, eachtransmission line, 301A and 301B, will have a characteristic impedancein air (Z₀) approximately or generally given by Z_(0≈60) ln (4h/a).Second, each transmission line, 301A and 301B, has a inductance (L)which is L≈5.08×10⁻⁹×ln (4h/a) Henrys/inch (H/inch). Additionally, thetwo transmission lines, 301A and 301B, will exhibit an interwire mutualinductance (M) which is given by M=L×{1/[1+(s/h)²]}. Third, an interwirecapacitive coupling (Cint) exists between the two transmission lines,301A and 301B, and is expressed as Cint=πε/cosh⁻¹(s/a). Using thetrigonometric relationship of cosh⁻¹(y)=ln(2y), the interwire capacitivecoupling can similarly be expressed as Cint=πε/ln(2s/a). Thus, in thisenvironment, the two transmission lines, 301A and 301B, exhibit aninterline capacitance (Cint) given by Cint={0.7/[ln(2 s/a)]} picoFarads/inch (pF/inch). Lastly, each transmission line, 301A and 301B,will further exhibit capacitive coupling C with the conducting substrate305.

Again, in FIG. 3B the transmission lines, 301A and 301B, are spaced adistance (h) from the conducting substrate 305. Using the method ofimages and the interwire capacitive relationship, Cint=πε/ln(2 s/a), asingle transmission line, 301A, over a conducting substrate is given byC=2πε/ln(4h/a) pF/inch where h=s/2. Thus, in this environment, the twotransmission lines, 301A and 301B, exhibit a capacitance, or capacitivecoupling C with the conductive substrate 305 which isC={1.41/[ln(4h/a)]} pF/inch. The above equations have been presented byassuming that the transmission lines have round or circular geometries.Actual transmission lines on integrated circuits might tend to be moresquare or rectangular than round due to present lithography techniques.Nevertheless, due to the actual physical size of transmission lines,determined according to minimum lithographic feature techniques, theformulas scale well to square, rectangular or other physical crosssectional geometries for the transmission lines.

The signal rise time (trise) in conventional voltage signaling isnormally slow due to the limited ability of the transmission linedrivers to supply the large currents needed to charge these capacitancesover large voltage swings. The signal rise times are usually much largerthan the signal transmission time down the line (tprop). Additionally,if two transmission lines are in close proximity then the voltage swingon one transmission line can induce a large voltage swing or noisevoltage on the adjacent transmission line. The noise voltage isdetermined by the capacitance ratios of interwire capacitance, Cint, tothe capacitance of the transmission line with the substrate, C. In otherwords, the noise voltage is determined according to the ratio Cint/C,Cint/C=1/2[ln(4h/a)/ln(2s/a)].

The values of Cint and C can be comparable, dependant upon the insulatorthickness (h) under the transmission lines and the spacing between thetransmission lines. Emphasis in prior art is placed upon minimizing thecapacitance of the transmission line, C, by using thick insulators andlow dielectric constant materials. Emphasis is also to some extentplaced upon minimizing the interwire capacitance, Cint. Thus, theapproach in the prior art results in a noise voltage which can be alarge fraction of the signal voltage if the transmission lines are inclose proximity and far removed from the substrate by being over thickinsulators.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, 401A and 401B, above a conductive substrate 405according to the teachings of the present invention. The presentinvention is designed to use current signaling across low impedancetransmission lines, 401A and 401B, to reduce signal transmission delayand to improve signaling performance over longer transmission lines.Under conventional voltage signaling the current provided in thetransmission lines is too weak to provide clean, accurately detectablecurrent signal. In order to obtain better current signals in thetransmission lines the signal to noise ratio of the transmission linesmust be improved.

To improve the signal to noise ratio of the transmission lines, 401A and401B, the capacitance coupling between the transmission lines, 401A and401B, and the conductive substrate 405, is made large. Thecharacteristic impedance (Zo) of the transmission lines, 401A and 401 B,can be expressed as Z₀=√{square root over (L/C)}. Thus, making C largemakes the characteristic impedance Zo=Zin, small and similarly makes thevoltage division ratio for capacitive coupling small. In the presentinvention, C increases as the insulator 407 thickness (h) separating thetransmission lines, 401A and 401B, from the ground plane, or substrate405 is decreased. In FIG. 4, the transmission lines, 401A and 401B, areseparated a distance (h) from the conducting substrate 405 by aninsulating layer 407. In one embodiment, the insulating layer 407 is anoxide layer 407. The capacitive coupling C between the transmissionlines, 401A and 401B, and the conducting substrate 405 separated by anoxide layer 407 is given as C≈1.66/[ln(4h/a)] pF/cm. Additionally, theinductance (L) for the transmission lines, 401A and 401B, over the oxidelayer 407 is L≈2×ln(4h/a) nanoHenrys/centimeter (nH/cm). Thetransmission lines, 401A and 401B, are shown in a square geometry havinga width (a). The insulator 407 has a thickness (b) separating thetransmission lines, 401A and 401B from the substrate. 405. According toone embodiment of the present invention, the insulator thickness (b) ismade thinner than the thickness (t) of the transmission lines, 401A and401B. The center of the transmission lines, 401A and 401B, are adistance (h) above the conducting substrate 405.

According to the teachings of the present invention, in one embodimentthe thickness (b) of the insulator is equal to or less than 1.0micrometers (μm). In one embodiment, the thickness (t) of the of thetransmission lines, 401A and 401B is approximately equal to 1.0micrometers (μm). In one embodiment, the thickness (t) of thetransmission lines, 401A and 401B is less than 1.0 (μm). In oneembodiment, the width (a) of the transmission lines, 401A and 401B isapproximately 1.0 micrometers (μm). As one of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate upon reading the present disclosure, one embodiment ofthe present invention includes transmission lines 401A and 401B formedaccording to the above described dimensions and separated from thesubstrate 405 by an insulator having a thickness (b) of less than 1.0micrometers (μm). In one exemplary embodiment, the transmission lines401A and 401B have an input impedance (Z₀) approximately equal to 50ohms.

A co-pending application, by the same inventors, entitled “CapacitiveTechniques to Reduce Noise in High Speed Interconnections,” applicationSer. No. 10/060,801, filed 30 Jan. 2002, describes minimizing interwirecoupling capacitance, and making the insulator thickness over the groupplane small, minimizing Zo. The same is incorporated herein byreference. According to the teachings described therein, acharacteristic impedance of 50 ohms is easily realizable.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for an interconnection on an integratedcircuit 500 according to the teachings of the present invention. Theinterconnection on the integrated circuit 500 includes a pair oftransmission lines, 501A and 501B, in close proximity. The firsttransmission line 501A is separated by a distance (s) from the secondtransmission line 501B. The first transmission line 501A and the secondtransmission line 501B each have a first end, 505A and 505Brespectively. In one embodiment, the first end 505A for the firsttransmission line 501A is coupled to a driver 503. The firsttransmission line 501A and the second transmission line 501 B each havea second end, 506A and 506B respectively. In one embodiment, the secondend 506A is coupled to a termination 504 formed using a complementarymetal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process.

Reference to FIG. 5 is useful in explaining the reduced amount of noisecurrent between two transmission lines, 501A and 501B, using the currentsignaling technique of the present invention. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, transmission lines, 501A and 501B, have a lowcharacteristic impedances Zo. In one embodiment, the input impedance(Zin) seen by the driver 503 coupling to the first transmission line501A (in this example the “driven line”) is just the characteristicimpedance Zo for the first transmission line 501A. In other words, theCMOS termination 504 is impedance matched to the characteristicimpedance Zo of the transmission line 501A.

In one embodiment, the first transmission line 501A is separated byapproximately 3 μm from the second transmission line 501B and thetransmission lines have a length (l) of at least 500 μm. In anotherembodiment the transmission lines, 501A and 501B, have a length (l) ofat least 0.1 cm, or 1000 μm. As in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transmissionlines, 501A and 501B, are separated from a conducting substrate by aninsulating layer. In one embodiment, the insulating layer is an oxidelayer. In this embodiment, the capacitive coupling C between thetransmission lines, 501A and 501B, and the conducting substrate is givenas C≈1.66/[ln(4h/a)] pF/cm. In one exemplary embodiment, eachtransmission line, 501A and 501B, has a length (l) of 0.1 cm or 1000 μm,each has a width (a) of approximately 1.0 μm, and the insulator layerthickness (b) is approximately 0.2 μm. In this embodiment, the ln(4h/a)will be approximately 1. Thus, C≈1.66/[ln(4h/a)] pF/cm and for a line0.1 cm long will produce a C≈0.2 pF. In the same embodiment, theinductance (L) for the transmission lines, 501A and 501B, over the oxidelayer is L≈2×ln(4h/a) nH/cm, or L=0.2 nH for a line 0.1 cm long. In thisembodiment, a 1 milli Ampere (niA) current step, i_(i)(t), is applied tothe gate 502 of a transistor driver 503. In one embodiment, the driveris an n-channel source follower driver 503. In this embodiment, the risetime (trise) on the gate 502 of the driver 503 is approximately 100 ps.This is the limiting time on the system response since the signal delay(tprop) down a the transmission line is proportional to √{square rootover (LC)}. For a 0.1 cm transmission line, 501A or 501B, tprop is only7 ps. A current, di₁(t)/dt, of approximately 1×10⁷ A/sec is thenproduced on the first transmission line 501A.

The noise current i₂(t) induced on the second transmission line 501B byinterwire capacitive coupling (Cint) is calculated as approximatelyi₂(t)=(Cint)×(V₁step/trise). The interwire capacitive coupling (Cint)between the transmission lines, 501A and 501B, separated by an oxidedielectric can be expressed as Cint=0.46 pF/cm. Again, for a 0.1 cmtransmission line, 501A or 501B, Cint≈0.05 pF. As described inconnection with FIG. 5, a 1 mA current provided to the firsttransmission line 501A having a low characteristic impedance Zo ofapproximately 30 Ohms will result in a corresponding 30 mV Voltage step(V₁step) on the first transmission line 501A. Therefore, if trise is 100ps a noise current, i₂(t), of approximately 0.015 mA is produced on thesecond, neighboring, transmission line 501B. This noise current, i₂(t),induced in the second transmission line 501B is a very small percentage,or about 1%, of the signal current i₁(t) provided to the firsttransmission line 501A. Hence, the signal to noise ratio (SNR) will belarge. It can be shown, in general, that a signal to noise ratio (SNR)for the present invention, due to capacitive coupling is of the order(C/Cint) (trise/tprop); where, trise, is the rise time for the currentsignal and, tprop, the signal propagation time down the firsttransmission line 501A. The rise time on the signal current, i₁(t), inthe first transmission line 501A is fast and just follows the rise time(trise) on the input signal, or 100 ps. The response time of this systemutilizing current signals is thus much faster than those using voltagesignals.

Reference to FIG. 5 is similarly useful to illustrate the noise voltagesignal from magnetic coupling induced in the second transmission line501B by the signal current in the first transmission line 501A. As shownin FIG. 5, a voltage will be induced in the second transmission line501B which has a magnitude that depends on the trise, di₁(t)/dt, of thecurrent i₁(t) in the driven transmission line 501A, and the mutualinductance coupling (M) between neighboring transmission lines, e.g.501A and 501B. Each transmission line, 501A and 501B, has an inductance(L). As stated above, L≈0.2 nH for a 0.1 cm transmission line, 501A and501B. In one exemplary embodiment, the current i₁(t) in the firsttransmission line, 501A (in this example the “driven line”) rises to 1mA in 100 ps. A current, di₁(t)/dt, of approximately 1×10⁷ A/sec is thenproduced on the first transmission line 501A. As presented above inconnection with FIGS. 3A and 3B, the mutual inductance coupling (M) canbe expressed as M=L×{1/[1+(s/h)2]}. In one exemplary embodiment, s isapproximately equal to 3 μm, and h is approximately equal to 0.7 μm. Inthis embodiment, M will equate to approximately M=0.02 nano Henrys (nH).

Using the relationship that the induced voltage (Vind)=M×di₁(t)/dt, Vindis approximately equal to 0.2 mV. During this 100 ps time period theinduced voltage traveling down the second transmission line 501B justsees the characteristic impedance Zo of the second transmission line501B. In one embodiment Zo is approximately 30 Ohms, so here, thecurrent induced i₂(t) in the second transmission line is i₂(t)=Vind/Zoor 0.007 mA. This low value current is only approximately one percent(1%) of the signal current i₁(t) on the first transmission line, 501A.Hence, a large signal to noise ratio (SNR) results. In contrast, underthe prior technology, if high impedance capacitive loads had been usedon high characteristic impedance lines and conventional voltagesignaling employed there is typically a large noise voltage between theneighboring transmission lines, 501A and 501B. In the prior technology,the large noise voltage can be about one half as big as signal voltages.

The second transmission line 501B has an equivalently rapid timeconstant, (L/R) to that of the first transmission line 501A. In theembodiment presented above, the time constant is approximately 7 picoseconds (ps). The noise current i₂(t) in the second transmission line501B will reach a steady state in that time constant. The noise currentstays at this steady state value until the end of trise, in thisembodiment 100 ps, at which point i₁(t) stops changing. After this, thenoise current in the second line decays away very quickly. Again, whenthe input impedance seen by the driver 503 is matched to thecharacteristic impedance Zo of the first transmission line 501A, thesignal to noise ratio (SNR) due to inductive coupling between the firsttransmission line 501A and the second, or neighboring, transmission line501B is of the order, (L/M) (trise/tprop). In other embodiments, theactual mutual inductance and self inductances may vary from these givenvalues without departing from the scope of the invention.

Inductive effects which become important at high speeds include not onlythe self inductance of the interconnection lines, L, but also the mutualinductance between lines, M. As shown with respect to FIG. 5, previouslythe signal-to-noise ratio due to inductive coupling between lines is ofthe order, (L/M)(trise/tprop). Any technique which will minimize themutual inductance between lines will improve the signal-to-noise ratioon long interconnection lines in integrated circuits with high switchingspeeds.

The present invention, as described further below, provides structuresand methods through which inductive coupling on high speed interconnectscan be further reduced thus increasing the signal to noise ratio acrossthe same.

According to the teachings of the present invention, inductive couplingcan be minimized by:

-   -   (i) magnetic shields above and below the lines    -   (ii) magnetic shields between lines

These magnetic shields may be:

-   -   (i) good conductors with a thickness greater than the skin        depth, the conventional approach, but one which may not be        possible or practical with interconnection lines of sub-micron        dimensions    -   (ii) shields with high permeability metals to minimize the        mutual coupling or inductance between lines

High speed interconnections are provided which accord exemplaryperformance. That is, the invention described here provides an improvedand efficiently fabricated technique for high speed transmission lineson CMOS integrated circuits. In addition, the novel low input impedanceCMOS circuit offers the following advantages: (1) the signal delaydepends only on the velocity of light on the line and is easilypredictable and reproducible, eliminating or allowing for compensationfor signal and/or clock skew, (2) there are no reflections at thereceiving end of the line and this minimizes ringing, and (3) noisesignals will be smaller due to weaker coupling between lines resultingin better signal to noise ratios, the noise current will only be a smallfraction of the signal current.

One embodiment of the invention includes a method for formingtransmission lines in an integrated circuit. The method includes forminga first layer of electrically conductive material on a substrate. Afirst layer of insulating material is formed on the first layer of theelectrically conductive material. A pair of layered high permeabilityshielding lines are formed on the first layer of insulating material.The pair of layered high permeability shielding lines include layeredperm alloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films. A transmission line is formed on thefirst layer of insulating material and between and parallel with thepair of layered high permeability shielding lines. A second layer ofinsulating material is formed on the transmission line and the pair oflayered high permeability shielding lines. And, the method includesforming a second layer of electrically conductive material on the secondlayer of insulating material.

One embodiment of the invention, as discussed further below inconnection with FIG. 6, is a structure where an interconnection line islocated between a ground buss and a power supply buss (which for the ACsignal is AC ground) and as such constitutes a low impedancetransmission line interconnection. If the ground and power supply bussesare thicker than the skin depth at the frequency of interest, theelectric and magnetic fields will be shielded and confined to the areabetween these plates. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6, a layeredhigh permeability shielding line is placed between interconnection linesto distort the magnetic fields and shield the lines.

Other possible configurations are shown in FIGS. 7-12. Theseconfigurations highlight the fact that a single metal might not have allthe suitable properties for a given or desired implementation by systemsdesigned for low noise operation. For example, two materials might benecessary, one which has the desired magnetic properties to confinemagnetic fields and one to confine the electric fields. Accordingly,FIGS. 8-12 illustrate various alternative embodiments of the presentinvention as can be best suited to a particular system designed for lownoise operation. These embodiments make use of a sandwich layer of botha high permeability material, well suited for magnetic shielding, aswell as a low resistive conductive material that is well suited forelectrical shielding. By placing even a thin layer of the highpermeability material, a considerable amount of the magnetic field canbe contained.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment for a pair of neighboring transmissionlines, 601A and 601B, according to the teachings of the presentinvention. FIG. 6 illustrates one or more transmission lines, shown as601A and 601B. The one or more transmission lines, 601A and 601B, arespaced between a pair of electrically conductive planes 604 and 605. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, in one embodiment at least one of the electricallyconductive planes is formed on a substrate. As one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand upon reading this disclosure, the substrate-caninclude an insulator, a semiconductor material, silicon on insulatormaterial, or other materials. The invention is not so limited.

As shown in FIG. 6, the invention includes a number of layered highpermeability shielding lines, shown in this embodiment as 602A and 602B.According to the teachings of the present invention, the number oflayered high permeability shielding lines, 602A and 602B, consist ofalternating layers of high permeability metal 670 and a low resistiveconductive material 671. According to the teachings of the presentinvention, the layers of high permeability metal 670 include permalloyand Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films. As shown in FIG. 6, the number of layered highpermeability shielding lines, 602A and 602B are interspaced between theone or more transmission lines, 601A and 601B. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the one or more transmission lines, 601A and 601 B,and the number or layered high permeability shielding lines, 602A and602B, are spaced parallel to one another and are oriented lengthwiseperpendicular to the plane of the page illustrated in FIG. 6. In theinvention, the one or more transmission lines, 601A and 601B, and thenumber or layered high permeability shielding lines, 602A and 602B, areseparated from one another and from the pair of electrically conductiveplanes 604 and 605 by an insulator material 606. In one embodiment ofthe present invention, the insulator material 606 includes an oxide.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, the pair of electricallyconductive planes 604 and 605 include metal ground planes 604 and 605.In the invention, the electrically conductive planes, 604 and 605, canbe independently coupled to a ground source and/or a power supply bus asthe same will be known and understood by one of ordinary skill in theart. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, at least one of the pair ofelectrically conductive planes, 604 and 605, is formed to a thickness(t) which is greater than a skin depth (sd) penetrable by electricallyinduced magnetic field lines.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, an electrical signal transmitted across the one or moretransmission lines, 601A and 601B will induce a magnetic fieldsurrounding the one or more transmission lines, 601A and 601B. In theembodiment of FIG. 6 such a magnetic field is illustrated by magneticfield lines 611. According to the teachings of the present invention,the number of layered high permeability shielding lines, 602A and 602B,and the electrically conductive planes, 604 and 605, provide magneticshielding to reduce the amount of magnetically induced noise onneighboring transmission lines, e.g. 601A and 601B.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment for a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, 701-1 and 701-2, according to the teachings of thepresent invention. FIG. 7 illustrates one or more transmission lines,shown as 701-1 and 701-2. The one or more transmission lines, 701-1 and701-2, are spaced between a pair of electrically conductive planes 704and 705. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand uponreading this disclosure, any number of transmission lines, 701-1, . . ., 701-N, can be spaced between the conductive planes 704 and 705. As oneof ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, in one embodiment at least one of the electricallyconductive planes is formed on a substrate. As one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand upon reading this disclosure, the substrate caninclude an insulator, a semiconductor material, silicon on insulatormaterial, or other materials. The invention is not so limited.

As shown in FIG. 7, the invention includes a number of layered highpermeability shielding lines, shown in this embodiment as 702-1 and702-2. According to the teachings of the present invention, the numberof layered high permeability shielding lines, 702-1 and 702-2, consistof alternating layers of high permeability metal 770 and a low resistiveconductive material 771. According to the teachings of the presentinvention, the layers of high permeability metal 770 include permalloyand Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films. As shown in FIG. 7, the number of layered highpermeability shielding lines, 702-1 and 702-2 are interspaced betweenthe one or more transmission lines, 701 -1 and 701-2. In one embodimentof the present invention, the one or more transmission lines, 701-1 and701-2, and the number or layered high permeability shielding lines,702-1 and 702-2, are spaced parallel to one another and are orientedlengthwise perpendicular to the plane of the page illustrated in FIG. 7.As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, any number of transmission lines, 701-1, . . . , 701-N canbe spaced between any number of number layered high permeabilityshielding lines, 702-1, . . . , 702-N. That is, one or more layered highpermeability shielding lines, 702-1, . . . , 702-N will separate one ormore transmission lines, 701-1, . . . , 701-N. In the invention, the oneor more transmission lines, 701-1 and 701-2, and the number or layeredhigh permeability shielding lines, 702-1 and 702-2, are separated fromone another and from the pair of electrically conductive planes 704 and705 by an insulator material 706. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the insulator material 706 includes an oxide.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, the pair of electricallyconductive planes 704 and 705 each include two portions, 704A, 704B and705A and 705B. In this embodiment, a first portion, 704A and 705Arespectively, include metal ground planes. A second portion or surfaceportion, 704B and 705B respectively, consist of alternating layers ofhigh permeability metal 780 and a low resistive conductive material 781.According to the teachings of the present invention, the layers of highpermeability metal 780 include permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films. That is,the second portion or surface portion having the layers of highpermeability metal 780, adjacent to the one or more transmission lines,701-1 and 701-2, and the number of layered high permeability shieldinglines 702-1 and 702-2, include layered permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thepresent disclosure, the electrically conductive planes, 704 and 705, canbe independently coupled to a ground source and/or a power supply bus.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, an electrical signal transmitted across the one or moretransmission lines, 701-1 and 701-2 will induce a magnetic fieldsurrounding the one or more transmission lines, 701-1 and 701-2. In theembodiment of FIG. 7 such a magnetic field is illustrated by magneticfield lines 711. According to the teachings of the present invention,the number of layered high permeability shielding lines, 702-1 and702-2, and the electrically conductive planes, 704 and 705, providemagnetic shielding to reduce the amount of magnetically induced noise onneighboring transmission lines, e.g. 701-1 and 701-2.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second portion or surface portion, adjacent tothe one or more transmission lines, 701-1 and 701-2, and the number oflayered high permeability shielding lines 702-1 and 702-2, eachconsisting of alternating layers of high permeability metal 780, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material781, serve to shield the one or more transmission lines, 701-1 and701-2, from such electrically induced magnetic fields. The magneticfield lines 711 shown in FIG. 7, illustrates the magnetic shieldingeffect provided by the number of layered high permeability shieldinglines, 702-1 and 702-2, and the second portion or surface portion 704Band 705B, from magnetic fields produces by a current transmitted in theone or more transmission lines, 701-1 and 701-2. As one of ordinaryskill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, the firstportion, 704A and 705A respectively, of the electrically conductiveplanes, 704 and 705, provide a lower resistance such that there is verylittle resistance to the path of the return current.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7 and other embodiments below, thealternating layers of high permeability metal 780, e.g. magneticmaterial permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductivematerial 781 are formed on the inside of the conductive planes 704 and705, also referred to as the Vss or ground, adjacent to the one or moretransmission lines, 701 -1 and 701-2. However as one of ordinary skillin the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, the alternatinglayers of high permeability metal 780, e.g. magnetic material permalloyand Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 781 can alsobe placed on the outside of the conductive planes 704 and 705. As one ofordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure,the alternating layers of high permeability metal 780, e.g. magneticmaterial permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductivematerial 781 confine both the electric and magnetic fields in both the xand y direction.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment for a pair of neighboringtransmission lines, 801-1 and 801-2, according to the teachings of thepresent invention. FIG. 8 illustrates one or more integrated circuitlines, or transmission lines, shown as 801-1 and 801-2. The one or moretransmission lines, 801-1 and 801-2, are spaced between a pair ofelectrically conductive planes 804 and 805. As one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand upon reading this disclosure, any number oftransmission lines, 801-1, . . . , 801-N, can be spaced between theconductive planes 804 and 805. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand upon reading this disclosure, in one embodiment at least oneof the electrically conductive planes is formed on a substrate. As oneof ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, the substrate can include an insulator, a semiconductormaterial, silicon on insulator material, or other materials. Theinvention is not so limited.

As shown in FIG. 8, the invention includes a number of layered highpermeability shielding lines, shown in this embodiment as 802-1 and802-2. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 7, the number of layeredhigh permeability shielding lines, 802-1 and 802-2 are layeredvertically rather than horizontally. As shown in FIG. 8, the number oflayered high permeability shielding lines, 802-1 and 802-2 includealternating layers of high permeability metal 870, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 871. As shown inFIG. 8, the number of layered high permeability shielding lines, 802-1and 802-2 are interspaced between the one or more transmission lines,801-1 and 801-2. In one embodiment of the present invention, the one ormore transmission lines, 801-1 and 801-2, and the number of layered highpermeability shielding lines, 802-1 and 802-2, are spaced parallel toone another and are oriented lengthwise perpendicular to the plane ofthe page illustrated in FIG. 8. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand upon reading this disclosure, any number of transmissionlines, 801-1, . . . , 801-N can be spaced between any number of layeredhigh permeability shielding lines, 802-1 and 802-N. That is, one or morelayered high permeability shielding lines, 802-1 and 802-2 will separateone or more transmission lines, 801-1, . . . , 801-N. In the invention,the one or more transmission lines, 801-1 and 801-2, and the number oflayered high permeability shielding lines, 802-1 and 802-2, areseparated from one another and from the pair of electrically conductiveplanes 804 and 805 by an insulator material 806. In one embodiment ofthe present invention, the insulator material 806 includes an oxide.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, the pair of electricallyconductive planes 804 and 805 each include two portions, 804A, 804B and805A and 805B. In this embodiment, a first layer, 804A and 805Arespectively, include metal ground planes. A second layer or surfacelayer, 804B and 805B respectively, is formed of alternating layers ofhigh permeability metal 880, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and alow resistive conductive material 881. That is, the second layer orsurface layer, adjacent to the one or more transmission lines, 801-1 and801-2, and the number of layered high permeability shielding lines,802-1 and 802-2, are formed of alternating layers of high permeabilitymetal, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductivematerial. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand uponreading the present disclosure, the electrically conductive planes, 804and 805, can be independently coupled to a ground source and/or a powersupply bus.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, an electrical signal transmitted across the one or moretransmission lines, 801-1 and 801-2 will induce a magnetic fieldsurrounding the one or more transmission lines, 801-1 and 801-2. In theembodiment of FIG. 8 such a magnetic field is illustrated by magneticfield lines 811. According to the teachings of the present invention,the number of layered high permeability shielding lines, 802-1 and 802-2and the electrically conductive planes, 804 and 805, provide magneticshielding to reduce the amount of magnetically induced noise onneighboring transmission lines, e.g. 801-1 and 801-2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the second layer or surface portion 804B and 805B,adjacent to the one or more transmission lines, 801-1 and 801-2, and thenumber of layered high permeability shielding lines, 802-1 and 802-2,each consisting of alternating layers of high permeability metal, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material,serve to shield the one or more transmission lines, 801-1 and 801-2,from such electrically induced magnetic fields. The magnetic field lines811 shown in FIG. 8, illustrates the magnetic shielding effect providedby the number of layered high permeability shielding lines, 802-1 and802-2 and the second layer or surface layer 804B and 805B, from magneticfields produces by a current transmitted in the one or more transmissionlines, 801-1 and 801-2. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand upon reading this disclosure, the first layer, 804A and 805Brespectively, of the electrically conductive planes, 804 and 805,provide a lower resistance such that there is very little resistance tothe path of the return current.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 both the electric and magnetic fieldsare confined in both the x and y direction. Here the conductors areseparated by not only a high permeability magnetic material but asandwich of both a very low resistive ground plane which acts as a lowresistive return path for induced currents and high permeabilitymagnetic material.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment for neighboring transmissionlines, 901 -1 and 901-2, according to the teachings of the presentinvention. FIG. 9 illustrates one or more integrated circuit lines, ortransmission lines, shown as 901-1 and 901-2. The one or moretransmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2, are spaced between a pair ofelectrically conductive planes 904 and 905. As one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand upon reading this disclosure, any number oftransmission lines, 901-1, . . . , 901-N, can be spaced between theconductive planes 904 and 905. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand upon reading this disclosure, in one embodiment at least oneof the electrically conductive planes is formed on a substrate. As oneof ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, the substrate can include an insulator, a semiconductormaterial, silicon on insulator material, or other materials. Theinvention is not so limited.

As shown in FIG. 9, the invention includes a number of electricallyconductive lines, 902-1 and 902-2. According to the teachings of thepresent invention, the one or more transmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2,include alternating layers of high permeability metal 970, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material971. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9, the alternating layers ofhigh permeability metal 970, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and alow resistive conductive material 971 are formed on the one or moretransmission lines, 901 -1 and 901-2, on at least three sides of thenumber of transmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2. In this embodiment, thethree sides include opposing surfaces adjacent to the number ofelectrically conductive lines, 902-1 and 902-2, and on a side adjacentto the first conductive plane 904. As shown in FIG. 9, the one or moretransmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2, having alternating layers of highpermeability metal 970, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 971, are interspaced between the number orelectrically conductive metal lines, 902-1 and 902-2. In one embodimentof the present invention, the one or more transmission lines, 901 -1 and901-2, and the number or electrically conductive metal lines, 902-1 and902-2, are spaced parallel to one another and are oriented lengthwiseperpendicular to the plane of the page illustrated in FIG. 9. As one ofordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure,any number of transmission lines, 901-1, . . . , 901-N, havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 970, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 971, can bespaced between any number of number electrically conductive metal lines,902-1, . . . , 902-N. That is, one or more electrically conductive metallines, 902-1, . . . , 902-N will separate one or more transmissionlines, 901-1, . . . , 901-N. In the invention, the one or moretransmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2, and the number or electricallyconductive metal lines, 902-1 and 902-2, are separated from one anotherand from the pair of electrically conductive planes 904 and 905 by aninsulator material 906. In one embodiment of the present invention, theinsulator material 906 includes an oxide.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 9, the at least one of the pair ofelectrically conductive planes 904 and 905 includes two portions. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 9, conductive plane 905 includes two portions,905A and 905B. In this embodiment, conductive plane 904, and a firstlayer 905A for conductive plane 905, include metal ground planes. Inconductive plane 905 a second layer or surface layer 905B, is formed ofalternating layers of high permeability metal 980, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 981. That is,the second layer or surface layer, 905B adjacent to the one or moretransmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2, and the number of electricallyconductive metal lines 902-1 and 902-2, both include alternating layersof high permeability metal, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand upon reading the present disclosure, the electricallyconductive planes, 904 and 905, can be independently coupled to a groundsource and/or a power supply bus.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, an electrical signal transmitted across the one or moretransmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2 will induce a magnetic fieldsurrounding the one or more transmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2. In theembodiment of FIG. 9 such a magnetic field is illustrated by magneticfield lines 911. According to the teachings of the present invention,the one or more transmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2, having alternatinglayers of high permeability metal 970, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅films, and a low resistive conductive material 971, the number ofelectrically conductive metal lines 902-1 and 902-2, and theelectrically conductive planes, 904 and 905, provide magnetic shieldingto reduce the amount of magnetically induced noise on neighboringtransmission lines, e.g. 901-1 and 901-2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the second layer or surface layer 905B, adjacent tothe one or more transmission lines, 901 -1 and 901-2, having alternatinglayers of high permeability metal 970, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅films, and a low resistive conductive material 971, the electricallyconductive planes, 904 and 905, and the number of electricallyconductive metal lines 902-1 and 902-2, serve to shield the one or moretransmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2, from such electrically inducedmagnetic fields. The magnetic field lines 911 shown in FIG. 9,illustrates the magnetic shielding effect provided by the one or moretransmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2, having alternating layers of highpermeability metal 970, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 971, the number of electrically conductivemetal lines 902-1 and 902-2 and the second layer or surface layer 905B,from magnetic fields produced by a current transmitted in the one ormore transmission lines, 901-1 and 901-2. As one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand upon reading this disclosure, conductive plane904 and the first layer 905A of conductive plane 905 provide a lowerresistance such that there is very little resistance to the path of thereturn current.

The embodiment provided in FIG. 9 is easy to manufacture. Here thecurrent carrying low resistive conductors or metal lines, e.g. 901-1 and901-2 are encased on three sides by a high permeability magneticmaterial and separated from one another by low resistive metal lines902-1 and 902-2 that are grounded. To provide magnetic field confinementin the Y direction, a sandwich layer is used at the top of theconductors as provided by second layer 905B. This sandwich layer iscomposed of both a low resistive component as well as a highpermeability component. The bottom side, e.g. conductive plane 904, ofthe embedded metal lines or conductors 901-1 and 901-2 contain only aground plane. This provides complete electric and magnetic fieldconfinement.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment for neighboring transmissionlines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, according to the teachings of the presentinvention. FIG. 10 illustrates one or more integrated circuit lines, ortransmission lines, shown as 1001-1 and 1001-2 having alternating layersof high permeability metal 1070, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, anda low resistive conductive material 1071. The one or more transmissionlines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, are spaced between a pair of electricallyconductive planes 1004 and 1005. As one of ordinary skill in the artwill understand upon reading this disclosure, any number of transmissionlines, 1001-1, . . . , 1001-N, can be spaced between the conductiveplanes 1004 and 1005. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand upon reading this disclosure, in one embodiment at least oneof the electrically conductive planes is formed on a substrate. As oneof ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, the substrate can include an insulator, a semiconductormaterial, silicon on insulator material, or other materials. Theinvention is not so limited.

As shown in FIG. 10, the invention includes a number of electricallyconductive metal lines, 1002-1 and 1002-2, alternating layers of highpermeability metal 1090, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 1091. As shown in the embodiment of FIG.10, the alternating layers of high permeability metal 1090, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material1091 are formed on the number of electrically conductive metal lines,1002-1 and 1002-2, on at least three sides of the number of electricallyconductive metal lines, 1002-1 and 1002-2. In this embodiment, the threesides include opposing surfaces adjacent to the one or more transmissionlines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, and on a side adjacent to the first conductiveplane 1004. As shown in FIG. 10, the number of electrically conductivemetal lines, 1002-1 and 1002-2, having alternating layers of highpermeability metal 1090, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 1091, are interspaced between the one ormore transmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2. Further, in this embodiment,the one or more transmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, includealternating layers of high permeability metal 1070, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1071. As shownin the embodiment of FIG. 10, the alternating layers of highpermeability metal 1070, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 1071 are formed on the one or moretransmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, on at least three sides of thenumber of transmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2. In this embodiment, thethree sides include opposing surfaces adjacent to the number ofelectrically conductive lines, 1002-1 and 1002-2, and on a side adjacentto the first conductive plane 1004. As shown in FIG. 10, the one or moretransmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, having alternating layers of highpermeability metal 1070, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 1071, are interspaced between the numberor electrically conductive metal lines, 1002-1 and 1002-2 also havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1090, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1091. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the one or more transmission lines,1001-1 and 1001-2, and the number or electrically conductive metallines, 1002-1 and 1002-2, are spaced parallel to one another and areoriented lengthwise perpendicular to the plane of the page illustratedin FIG. 10. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand uponreading this disclosure, any number of transmission lines, 1001-1, . . ., 1001-N, having alternating layers of high permeability metal 1070,e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductivematerial 1071, can be spaced between any number of number electricallyconductive metal lines, 1002-1, . . . , 1002-N also having alternatinglayers of high permeability metal 1090, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅films, and a low resistive conductive material 1091. That is, one ormore electrically conductive metal lines, 1002-1, . . . , 1002-N willseparate one or more transmission lines, 1001-1, . . . , 1001-N. In theinvention, the one or more transmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, andthe number or electrically conductive metal lines, 1002-1 and 1002-2,are separated from one another and from the pair of electricallyconductive planes 1004 and 1005 by an insulator material 1006. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the insulator material 1006includes an oxide.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 10, at least one of the pair ofelectrically conductive planes 1004 and 1005 includes two portions. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 10, conductive plane 1005 includes twoportions, 1005A and 1005B. In this embodiment, conductive plane 1004,and a first layer 1005A for conductive plane 1005, include metal groundplanes. In conductive plane 1005 a second layer or surface layer 1005B,is formed of alternating layers of high permeability metal 1080, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material1081. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon readingthe present disclosure, the electrically conductive planes, 1004 and1005, can be independently coupled to a ground source and/or a powersupply bus.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, an electrical signal transmitted across the one or moretransmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2 will induce a magnetic fieldsurrounding the one or more transmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 10 such a magnetic field is illustrated bymagnetic field lines 1011. According to the teachings of the presentinvention, the one or more transmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1070, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1071, the numberof electrically conductive metal lines 1002-1 and 1002-2 also havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1090, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1091, and theelectrically conductive planes, 1004 and 1005, provide magneticshielding to reduce the amount of magnetically induced noise onneighboring transmission lines, e.g. 1001-1 and 1001-2.

As shown in FIG. 10, the one or more transmission lines, 1001-1 and1001-2, having alternating layers of high permeability metal 1070, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material1071, the electrically conductive planes, 1004 and 1005, and the numberof electrically conductive metal lines 1002-1 and 1002-2 also havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1090, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1091, serve toshield the one or more transmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, from suchelectrically induced magnetic fields. The magnetic field lines 1011shown in FIG. 10, illustrates the magnetic shielding effect provided bythe one or more transmission lines, 1001-1 and 1001-2, havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1070, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1071, the numberof electrically conductive metal lines 1002-1 and 1002-2 also havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1090, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1091, and thesecond layer or surface layer 1005B, from magnetic fields produced by acurrent transmitted in the one or more transmission lines, 1001-1 and1001-2. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon readingthis disclosure, conductive plane 1004 and the first layer 1005A providea lower resistance such that there is very little resistance to the pathof the return current.

FIG. 10 is another embodiment that is very easy to manufacture. The maindifference in the embodiment of FIG. 10 from the embodiment provided inFIG. 9 is that in this case the number of electrically conductive metallines 1002-1 and 1002-2, which where previously used only for electricfield confinement can also be used for magnetic field confinement. Analternate configuration to that shown in FIG. 10 is shown in FIG. 12. InFIG. 12, conductors 1201-1 and 1201-2 do not have a magnetic materialaround them.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment for neighboring transmissionlines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, according to the teachings of the presentinvention. FIG. 11 illustrates one or more integrated circuit lines, ortransmission lines, shown as 1101-1 and 1101 -2, having alternatinglayers of high permeability metal 1170, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅films, and a low resistive conductive material 1171. The one or moretransmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, are spaced between a pair ofelectrically conductive planes 1104 and 1105. As one of ordinary skillin the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, any number oftransmission lines, 1101-1, . . . , 1101-N, can be spaced between theconductive planes 1104 and 1105. As one of ordinary skill in the artwill understand upon reading this disclosure, in one embodiment at leastone of the electrically conductive planes is formed on a substrate. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, the substrate can include an insulator, a semiconductormaterial, silicon on insulator material, or other materials. Theinvention is not so limited.

As shown in FIG. 11, the invention includes a number of layered highpermeability shielding lines, shown in this embodiment as 1102-1 and1102-2. According to the teachings of the present invention, the numberof layered high permeability shielding lines, 1102-1 and 1102-2, areformed of alternating layers of high permeability metal 1190, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material1191. As shown in FIG. 1 1, the number of layered high permeabilityshielding lines, 1102-1 and 1102-2 are interspaced between the one ormore transmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and1101-2, and the number or layered high permeability shielding lines,1102-1 and 1102-2, are spaced parallel to one another and are orientedlengthwise perpendicular to the plane of the page illustrated in FIG.11. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 11, the alternating layers ofhigh permeability metal 1170, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and alow resistive conductive material 1 171 are formed on the one or moretransmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, in an orientation parallel to thefirst and the second conductive planes 1104 and 1105. As shown in FIG.11, the one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, having atleast one surface layer 1115 formed of a layered perm alloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅film, are interspaced between the number layered high permeabilityshielding lines, 1102-1 and 1102-2. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, andthe number or layered high permeability shielding lines, 1102-1 and1102-2, are spaced parallel to one another and are oriented lengthwiseperpendicular to the plane of the page illustrated in FIG. 11. As one ofordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure,any number of transmission lines, 1101-1, . . . , 1101-N, having atleast one surface layer 1115 formed of a layered permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅film, can be spaced between any number of number layered highpermeability shielding lines, 1102-1, . . . , 1102-N. That is, one ormore layered high permeability shielding lines, 1102-1, . . . , 1102-Nwill separate one or more transmission lines, 1101-1, . . . , 1101-N. Inthe invention, the one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2,and the number or layered high permeability shielding lines, 1102-1 and1102-2, are separated from one another and from the pair of electricallyconductive planes 1104 and 1105 by an insulator material 1106. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the insulator material 1106includes an oxide. In an alternative embodiment, the one or moretransmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, having alternating layers of highpermeability metal 1170, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 1171, and the number or layered highpermeability shielding lines, 1102-1 and 1102-2, do not have to belocated between the pair of electrically conductive planes 1104 and1105, but are still encapsulated by an insulator material 1106. As oneof ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading the presentdisclosure, the high permeability planes, 1104 and 1105, can beindependently coupled to a ground source and/or a power supply bus.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, an electrical signal transmitted across the one or moretransmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2 will induce a magnetic fieldsurrounding the one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 11 such a magnetic field is illustrated bymagnetic field lines 1111. According to the teachings of the presentinvention, the one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1170, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1171, the numberof layered high permeability shielding lines 1102-1 and 1102-2, havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1190, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1191, and theelectrically conductive planes, 1104 and 1105, provide magneticshielding to reduce the amount of magnetically induced noise onneighboring transmission lines, e.g. 1101-1 and 1101-2.

As shown in FIG. 11, the one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and1101-2, having alternating layers of high permeability metal 1170, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material1171, the electrically conductive planes, 1104 and 1105, and the numberof layered high permeability shielding lines 1102-1 and 1102-2 havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1190, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1191, serve toshield the one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, from suchelectrically induced magnetic fields. The magnetic field lines 1111shown in FIG. 11, illustrates the magnetic shielding effect provided bythe one or more transmission lines, 1101-1 and 1101-2, havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1170, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1171, theelectrically conductive planes, 1104 and 1105, and the number of layeredhigh permeability shielding lines 1102-1 and 1102-2 having alternatinglayers of high permeability metal 1190, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅films, and a low resistive conductive material 1191, from magneticfields produced by a current transmitted in the one or more transmissionlines, 1101-1 and 1101-2. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand upon reading this disclosure, the electrically conductiveplanes, 1104 and 1105, provide a lower resistance such that there isvery little resistance to the path of the return current.

The embodiment provided in FIG. 11 is another possibility that providesfor magnetic confinement in all directions, but in this case, themagnetic material is only placed at the top and bottom of conductors1101-1 and 1101-2. These conductors are separated by a high permeabilitymagnetic material. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the one or moretransmission lines 1101-1 and 1101-2 are enclosed by low resistivemetals, e.g. conductive planes 1104 and 1105 on both sides.

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment for neighboring transmissionlines, 1201-1 and 1201-2, according to the teachings of the presentinvention. FIG. 12 illustrates one or more integrated circuit lines, ortransmission lines, shown as 1201-1 and 1201-2. The one or moretransmission lines, 1201-1 and 1201-2, are spaced between a pair ofelectrically conductive planes 1204 and 1205. As one of ordinary skillin the art will understand upon reading this disclosure, any number oftransmission lines, 1201-1, . . . , 1201-N, can be spaced between theconductive planes 1204 and 1205. As one of ordinary skill in the artwill understand upon reading this disclosure, in one embodiment at leastone of the electrically conductive planes is formed on a substrate. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, the substrate can include an insulator, a semiconductormaterial, silicon on insulator material, or other materials. Theinvention is not so limited.

As shown in FIG. 12, the invention includes a number of electricallyconductive metal lines, shown in this embodiment as 1202-1 and 1202-2.According to the teachings of the present invention, the number ofelectrically conductive metal lines, 1202-1 and 1202-2, includealternating layers of high permeability metal 1290, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1291. As shownin the embodiment of FIG. 12, the alternating layers of highpermeability metal 1290, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 1291 are formed on the number ofelectrically conductive metal lines, 1202-1 and 1202-2, on at leastthree sides of the number of electrically conductive metal lines, 1202-1and 1202-2. In this embodiment, the three sides include opposingsurfaces adjacent to the one or more transmission lines, 1201-1 and1201-2, and on a side adjacent to the first conductive plane 1204. Asshown in FIG. 12, the number of electrically conductive metal lines,1202-1 and 1202-2, having alternating layers of high permeability metal1290, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductivematerial 1291, are interspaced between the one or more transmissionlines, 1201-1 and 1201-2. As shown in FIG. 12, the one or moretransmission lines, 1201-1 and 1201-2 are interspaced between the numberor electrically conductive metal lines, 1202-1 and 1202-2 havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1290, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1291. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the one or more transmission lines,1201-1 and 1201-2, and the number or electrically conductive metallines, 1202-1 and 1202-2, are spaced parallel to one another and areoriented lengthwise perpendicular to the plane of the page illustratedin FIG. 12.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, any number of transmission lines, 1201-1, . . . , 1201-N,can be spaced between any number of number electrically conductive metallines, 1202-1, . . . , 1202-N having alternating layers of highpermeability metal 1290, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 1291. That is, one or more electricallyconductive metal lines, 1202-1, . . . , 1202-N, having alternatinglayers of high permeability metal 1290, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅films, and a low resistive conductive material 1291, will separate oneor more transmission lines, 1201-1, . . . , 1201-N. In the invention,the one or more transmission lines, 1201-1 and 1201-2, and the number orelectrically conductive metal lines, 1202-1 and 1202-2, are separatedfrom one another and from the pair of electrically conductive planes1204 and 1205 by an insulator material 1206. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the insulator material 1206 includes an oxide.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 12, the electrically conductiveplanes 1204 and 1205 includes two portions, e.g. 1204A, 1204B, 1205A and1205B. In this embodiment, a first layer 1204A for conductive plane1204, and a first layer 1205A for conductive plane 1205, include metalground planes. In conductive planes 1204 and 1205 a second layer orsurface layer 1204B and 1205B, are formed of alternating layers of highpermeability metal 1280, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a lowresistive conductive material 1281. As one of ordinary skill in the artwill understand upon reading the present disclosure, the electricallyconductive planes, 1204 and 1205, can be independently coupled to aground source and/or a power supply bus.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure, an electrical signal transmitted across the one or moretransmission lines, 1201-1 and 1201-2 will induce a magnetic fieldsurrounding the one or more transmission lines, 1201-1 and 1201-2. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 12 such a magnetic field is illustrated bymagnetic field lines 1211. According to the teachings of the presentinvention, the number of electrically conductive metal lines 1202-1 and1202-2 having alternating layers of high permeability metal 1290, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material1291, and the electrically conductive planes, 1204 and 1205 also havingalternating layers of high permeability metal 1280, e.g. permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material 1281, providemagnetic shielding to reduce the amount of magnetically induced noise onneighboring transmission lines, e.g. 1201-1 and 1201-2.

As shown in FIG. 12, the electrically conductive planes, 1204 and 1205,having alternating layers of high permeability metal 1280, e.g.permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductive material1281, and the number of electrically conductive metal lines 1202-1 and1202-2 also having alternating layers of high permeability metal 1290,e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductivematerial 1291, serve to shield the one or more transmission lines,1201-1 and 1201-2, from such electrically induced magnetic fields. Themagnetic field lines 1211 shown in FIG. 12, illustrates the magneticshielding effect provided by the number of electrically conductive metallines 1202-1 and 1202-2 having alternating layers of high permeabilitymetal 1290, e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistiveconductive material 1291, and the electrically conductive planes, 1204and 1205, having alternating layers of high permeability metal 1280,e.g. permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films, and a low resistive conductivematerial 1281, from magnetic fields produced by a current transmitted inthe one or more transmission lines, 1201-1 and 1201-2. As one ofordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosure,the first layer 1204A of conductive plane 1204 and the first layer 1205Aof conductive plane 1205 provide a lower resistance such that there isvery little resistance to the path of the return current. FIG. 12highlights a configuration that is similar to FIG. 10 but allows formore space to be used for conductors 1201-1 and 1201-2 since they arenot encased on magnetic material.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram which illustrates an embodiment of a system1300 using line signaling according to teachings of the presentinvention. The system 1300 includes a low output impedance driver 1310having a driver impedance, as is well known in the art. The low outputimpedance driver 1310 is coupled to a transmission line circuit 1320.Embodiments of the transmission line circuit 1320 are described andpresented above with reference to FIGS. 6-12. Moreover, the system 1300includes a termination circuit 1330 having a termination impedance thatis matched to the impedance of the transmission line circuit 1320.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram which illustrates an embodiment of a system1400 according to teaching of the present invention. The system 1400includes an integrated circuit 1410. The integrated circuit 1410includes the transmission line circuit described and presented abovewith reference to FIGS. 6-12. Additionally, the system 1400 includes aprocessor 1420 that is operatively coupled to the integrated circuit1410. The processor 1420 is coupled to the integrated circuit 1410through a system bus 1430. In one embodiment, the processor 1420 and theintegrated circuit 1410 are on the same semiconductor chip.

High Frequency Permeability Films

The study of high frequency permeability of thin-film magnetic stripesunder high field excitation is important for the development of highrate data read heads as discussed in an article by Yimin Hsu et al. (Seegenerally, J. Appl. Phys., 89, 11, 6808 (2001)). The measurement isconventionally performed by using permeameters as described in articlesby B. C. Webb et al. (See generally, J. Appl. Phs., 69, 5611 (1991); andIEEE Trans. Magn., 27, 4876 (1991)). However, it is difficult to performthe measurement in both high field excitation and at 100 MHz and beyond.In a recent article, the high field high frequency permeability ofpermalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ patterned films is measured from lithographicallydefined toroidal devices. (See generally, Yimin Hsu et al., J. Appl.Phys., 89, 11, 6808 (2001)). Permeability and rolloff characteristics asthe patterned width is reduced are discussed therein.

In the above article, test structures were fabricated having toroidalshapes with widths ranging from 0.5 to 30 μm. Each toroid consists oftwo parallel rectangular-shape patterned films connected by “pedestals”at both ends. The base designed of the test structure 55 μm long withten-turn coils. The coils are embedded in alumina and these devices arefully planarized by the chemical-mechanical-polish process to avoidundesirable stress induced by topography. In this experiment, the bottomlayers are 2.5 μm thick permalloy and the pedestals are 2.2 μm tallpermalloy. One wafer has 2.5 μm of permalloy and top layers and otherNi₄₅Fe₅₅. The inductance rolloff date of these structures are measuredby using a Hewlett Packard 4291 A impedance analyzer. The teststructures are excited by applying high frequency current to the pancakecoils. The permeability frequency rolloff characteristics of themagnetic thin films were calculated from the inductance rolloff data byusing the segmental transmission line method as described in an articleby T. Amoldussen. (See generally, IEEE Trans. Magn., 24, 2482 (1988)).The simple geometry of these devices minimizes the ambiguity inpermeability calculations.

Permeability of patterned permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ films with widths from30 to 0.5 μm has been studied under high field up to 5 Oe and frequencyup to 500 MHz. It is observed that the permeability increases as theexcitation field increases due to the increasing flux conduction fromwall motion. At frequencies where wall motion is damped, there is nodiscernible difference between high and low field excitation. The dataalso suggest that the permeability rolloff measured at low excitationcurrent is sufficient to predict high frequency write head performance.As the width of the patterns is reduced, the reduction of effectiverotational permeability results from reduction of the active area sincethe edge closure region does not participate in flux conduction. As thewidth is reduced to sub-micron range, the rotational permeability issignificantly reduced. The 0.5 μm wide device has μ_(rot) of 80 for thepermalloy case and 50 for the Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ case.

A new process has been used in the industry to measure the highpermeability materials at high frequencies, up to 1 GHz. (See generally,M. Senda, “Permeability measurement of soft magnetic films at highfrequency and multilayering effect,” IEEE Translation of J. of Magneticsin Japan, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 161-168, March 1993). An inductance linewith a magnetic/conductive/magnetic layer structure was used to estimatethe permeability (to see the details of the parts, a reader isrecommended to see the original text cited above). The inductance linemade it possible to measure the frequency characteristics of thepermeability up to the GHz range because of a low stray capacitance andhigh resonance frequency. The magnetic film pattern was designed so asto eliminate demagnetizing field effects, and the permeability wasestimated based on analysis of the magnetic circuit. Using this method,NiFe/SiO₂ and (Fe/SiO₂)/SiO₂ multilayer films were confirmed to showsuperior frequency characteristics by a factor of 20 over those of NiFesingle-layer film. Also, ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) was observed inthese multilayer films at 650 and 750 MHz.

A Hewlett Packard HP4191 A was used in impedance measurements.Specialized tubes (16091-60023) were connected to both ends of thesample, and these were mounted inside a cylindrical fixture (16091A) toperform measurements. The sample impedance ranged from several Ohms toseveral ten of Ohms between 10 MHz and 1000 MHz, and above several tensof MHz the instrument measurement error was within several percent.

The method of measurement was confirmed to operate as expected, and thehigh-frequency magnetic characteristics of multilayer films wereevaluated, and the main results are as follows:

-   -   1. Through this method, the magnetic circuit composed of an        inductance line with a magnetic/conductive/magnetic films        structures was analyzed the basis of its impedance        characteristics, enabling calculation of the relative        permeability of the magnetic material. The inductance line had a        stripe shape, and the stray capacitance was reduced to raise the        resonance frequency, making possible measurements in the GHz        range. By adopting a strip pattern for the magnetic layers, the        effect of the demagnetizing field was avoided. In order to        perform still more accurate measurements, it will probably be        necessary to add improvements to the magnetic circuit analysis        and impedance matching.    -   2. It was confirmed that the multilayer structure including none        magnetic layers is an effective means of improving the frequency        characteristic, reducing losses and expanding the effective        magnetic path width. For NiFe/SiO₂ [50-100 nm] and (Fe/SiO₂)SiO₂        [(7/2.5)/50 nm] multilayer film, an improvement of some twenty        times or so over NiFe single-layer film was observed.    -   3. The high-frequency magnetic properties of multilayer film are        limited by dielectric breakdown of the insulating layers when        the latter are thin, and by eddy current loss due to formation        of an electrical capacitance and/or by ferromagnetic resonance        when the insulating layer are thick. Ferromagnetic resonance was        observed at 650 MHz in the NiFe/SiO₂, and at 750 MHz in the        (Fe/SiO₂)SiO₂ multilayer films.

These results demonstrate that the characteristics of multilayer filmsinvolving non-magnetic materials as well as NiFe or Fe magneticmaterials have higher effective permeabilities at higher frequenciesthan simple layers of magnetic materials by themselves. This disclosurethen describes the use of the multilayers as magnetic shields to reducethe inductive coupling between interconnection lines in integratedcircuits.

CONCLUSION

Thus, structures and methods are provided for improved, high speedtransmission lines on integrated circuits. High speed interconnectionsare provided which accord exemplary performance. That is, the inventiondescribed here provides an improved and efficiently fabricated techniquefor high speed transmission lines on CMOS integrated circuits. Inaddition, the novel low input impedance CMOS circuit offers thefollowing advantages: (1) the signal delay depends only on the velocityof light on the line and is easily predictable and reproducible,eliminating or allowing for compensation for signal and/or clock skew,(2) there are no reflections at the receiving end of the line and thisminimizes ringing, and (3) noise signals will be smaller due to weakercoupling between lines resulting in better signal to noise ratios, thenoise current will only be a small fraction of the signal current.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose maybe substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the presentinvention. It is to be understood that the above description is intendedto be illustrative, and not restrictive. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill inthe art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the inventionincludes any other applications in which the above structures andfabrication methods are used. The scope of the invention should bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

1. An electronic system comprising: a processor; and an integratedcircuit coupled to the processor, the integrated circuit including: alayer of insulating material disposed above a substrate; a number oftransmission lines on the layer of insulating material; and a number ofshielding lines on the layer of insulating material, the transmissionlines interposed between and parallel with the shielding lines, whereinat least one of the transmission lines, at least one of the shieldinglines, or at least one of both the transmission lines and the shieldinglines include a layered film of a high permeability material.
 2. Theelectronic system of claim 1, wherein the layered film of the highpermeability material includes a layered film having a layer of a nickeliron compound and a layer of an electrically conductive material, thelayers of the nickel iron compound and the electrically conductivematerial arranged as alternating layers.
 3. The electronic system ofclaim 1, wherein the layered film of the high permeability materialincludes a layered film having a layer of a nickel iron compound, alayer of an electrically conductive material, and a layer of anothernickel iron compound, the layers of the nickel iron compounds and theelectrically conductive material arranged as alternating layers.
 4. Theelectronic system of claim 1, wherein the layered film of the highpermeability material includes permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 5. The electronicsystem of claim 1, wherein a conductive plane is disposed on adielectric layer, the dielectric disposed on the transmission lines andthe shielding lines above the layer of insulating material such that thetransmission lines and the shielding lines are situated between theconductive plane and the substrate.
 6. The electronic system of claim 5,wherein the insulating material and the dielectric layer have a commoncomposition.
 7. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein a conductiveplane is disposed between the substrate and the layer of insulatingmaterial.
 8. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein each transmissionline has a width that is greater than a thickness of the transmissionline.
 9. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the transmissionlines include the layered film of the high permeability material. 10.The electronic system of claim 8, wherein the layered film of the highpermeability material includes permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 11. Theelectronic system of claim 1, wherein the shielding lines include thelayered film of the high permeability material.
 12. The electronicsystem of claim 10, wherein the layered film of the high permeabilitymaterial includes permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 13. The electronic system ofclaim 1, wherein the integrated circuit includes a driver circuitcoupled to at least one of the transmission lines, the at least onetransmission line coupled to a termination circuit, the at least onetransmission line having an impedance and the termination having atermination impedance such that the impedance of the transmission lineis matched to the termination impedance.
 14. An electronic systemcomprising: a processor; and an integrated circuit coupled to theprocessor, the integrated circuit including: a first conductive plane ona substrate; a first layer of insulating material disposed above thesubstrate and on the first conductive plane; a number of shielding lineson the first layer of insulating material, wherein the shielding linesinclude a layered film of a high permeability material; a number oftransmission lines on the first layer of insulating material, thetransmission lines interposed between and parallel with the shieldinglines; a second layer of insulating material on the number oftransmission lines and the number of shielding lines; and a secondconductive plane on the second layer of insulating material.
 15. Theelectronic system of claim 14, wherein the layered film of the highpermeability material includes a layered film having layers of the highpermeability material and layers of an electrically conductive materialsuch that a set of the layers of the high permeability material and theelectrically conductive material are disposed substantiallyperpendicular with a surface of the first conductive plane and anotherset of the layers of the high permeability material and the electricallyconductive material are disposed substantially perpendicular with asurface of the first conductive plane.
 16. The electronic system ofclaim 15, wherein the shielding lines are coupled to ground.
 17. Theelectronic system of claim 14, wherein the layered film of the highpermeability material includes a layered film having a layer of the highpermeability material and a layer of an electrically conductivematerial.
 18. The electronic system of claim 17, wherein the layers ofthe high permeability material and the electrically conductive materialare disposed substantially parallel with a surface of the firstconductive plane.
 19. The electronic system of claim 17, wherein thelayers of the high permeability material and the electrically conductivematerial are disposed substantially perpendicular with a surface of thefirst conductive plane.
 20. The electronic system of claim 17, whereinthe second conductive plane includes a layered structure having a layerof a second high permeability material and a layer of a secondelectrically conductive material.
 21. The electronic system of claim 20,wherein the layered structure is disposed on and contacting the secondlayer of insulating material.
 22. The electronic system of claim 20,wherein the second conductive plane includes a ground plane separatedfrom the second layer of insulating material by the layered structure.23. The electronic system of claim 20, wherein the layered structureincludes a layer of the second high permeability material separated froma layer of a third high permeability material by the layer of the secondelectrically conductive material.
 24. The electronic system of claim 23,wherein the second high permeability material includes permalloy and thethird high permeability material includes Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 25. The electronicsystem of claim 17, wherein the first conductive plane includes a firstlayered structure having a layer of a second high permeability materialand a layer of a second electrically conductive material and the secondconductive plane includes a second layered structure having a layer of athird high permeability material and a layer of a third electricallyconductive material.
 26. The electronic system of claim 25, wherein thefirst layered structure is disposed in contact with the first layer ofinsulating material and the second layered structure is disposed incontact with the second layer of insulating material.
 27. The electronicsystem of claim 25, wherein the first layered structure includes thelayer of the second high permeability material separated from a layer ofa fourth high permeability material by the layer of the secondelectrically conductive material and the second layered structureincludes the layer of the third high permeability material separatedfrom a layer of a fifth high permeability material by the layer of thethird electrically conductive material.
 28. The electronic system ofclaim 27, wherein the second and third high permeability materials eachincludes permalloy and the fourth and fifth high permeability materialseach includes Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 29. The electronic system of claim 14, whereinthe integrated circuit is a memory.
 30. An electronic system comprising:a processor; and an integrated circuit coupled to the processor, theintegrated circuit including: a first conductive plane on a substrate; afirst layer of insulating material disposed above the substrate and onthe first conductive plane; a number of shielding lines on the firstlayer of insulating material; a number of transmission lines on thefirst layer of insulating material, the transmission lines interposedbetween and parallel with the shielding lines, wherein the transmissionlines include a layered film of a high permeability material; a secondlayer of insulating material on the number of transmission lines and thenumber of shielding lines; and a second conductive plane on the secondlayer of insulating material.
 31. The electronic system of claim 30,wherein the layered film of the high permeability material includes alayered film having layers of the high permeability material and layersof an electrically conductive material such that a set of layers of thehigh permeability material and the electrically conductive material aredisposed substantially perpendicular with a surface of the firstconductive plane and another set of layers of the high permeabilitymaterial and the electrically conductive material are disposedsubstantially perpendicular with a surface of the first conductiveplane.
 32. The electronic system of claim 31, wherein the shieldinglines are electrically conductive lines coupled to ground.
 33. Theelectronic system of claim 30, wherein the layered film of thetransmission lines includes a layer of the high permeability materialand a layer of the electrically conductive material, and the shieldinglines include a second layered film having a layer of a second highpermeability material and a layer of a second electrically conductivematerial.
 34. The electronic system of claim 33, wherein the secondlayered film includes a layered film having layers of the second highpermeability material and layers of the second electrically conductivematerial such that a set of the layers of the second high permeabilitymaterial and the second electrically conductive material are disposedsubstantially perpendicular with a surface of the first conductive planeand another set of the layers of the second high permeability materialand the second electrically conductive material are disposedsubstantially perpendicular with the surface of the first conductiveplane.
 35. The electronic system of claim 33, wherein the layers of thesecond high permeability material and the second electrically conductivematerial of the shielding lines are disposed substantially perpendicularwith a surface of the first conductive plane.
 36. The electronic systemof claim 35, wherein the layers of the high permeability material andthe electrically conductive material of the transmission lines disposedsubstantially parallel with the surface of the first conductive plane.37. The electronic system of claim 30, wherein the layered film of thetransmission lines includes a layer of the high permeability materialand a layer of the electrically conductive material, and the secondconductive plane includes a layered structure having a layer of a secondhigh permeability material and a layer of a second electricallyconductive material.
 38. The electronic system of claim 37, wherein thelayered structure is disposed on and contacting the second layer ofinsulating material.
 39. The electronic system of claim 37, wherein thesecond conductive plane includes a ground plane separated from thesecond layer of insulating material by the layered structure.
 40. Theelectronic system of claim 37, wherein the layered structure includes alayer of the second high permeability material separated from a layer ofa third high permeability material by the layer of the secondelectrically conductive material.
 41. The electronic system of claim 30,wherein the second high permeability material includes permalloy and thethird high permeability material includes Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 42. The electronicsystem of claim 30, wherein the first conductive plane includes a firstlayered structure having a layer of a second high permeability materialand a layer of a second electrically conductive material and the secondconductive plane includes a second layered structure having a layer of athird high permeability material and a layer of a third electricallyconductive material.
 43. The electronic system of claim 42, wherein thefirst layered structure is disposed in contact with the first layer ofinsulating material and the second layered structure is disposed incontact with the second layer of insulating material.
 44. The electronicsystem of claim 42, wherein the first layered structure includes thelayer of the second high permeability material separated from a layer ofa fourth high permeability material by the layer of the secondelectrically conductive material and the second layered structureincludes the layer of the third high permeability material separatedfrom a layer of a fifth high permeability material by the layer of thethird electrically conductive material.
 45. The electronic system ofclaim 44, wherein the second and third high permeability materials eachincludes permalloy and the fourth and fifth high permeability materialseach includes Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 46. The electronic system of claim 44, whereinthe first conductive plane includes a ground plane separated from thefirst layer of insulating material by the first layered structure. 47.The electronic system of claim 30, wherein the integrated circuit is amemory.
 48. An electronic system comprising: a processor; and anintegrated circuit coupled to the processor, the integrated circuitincluding: a layer of insulating material disposed above a substrate; anumber of transmission lines on the layer of insulating material; and anumber of shielding lines on the layer of insulating material, theshielding lines being electrically conductive lines, the transmissionlines interposed between and parallel with the shielding lines, whereinat least one of the transmission lines and the conductive lines includesa layered film of a high permeability material, the layered film of ahigh permeability material being a layered film a first nickel ironcompound and a second nickel iron compound.
 49. The electronic system ofclaim 48, wherein the first nickel iron compound is permalloy and thesecond nickel iron compound is Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 50. The electronic system ofclaim 48, wherein a conductive plane is disposed on the layer ofinsulating material such that the transmission lines and the conductivelines are situated between the conductive plane and the substrate. 51.The electronic system of claim 48, wherein a conductive plane isdisposed between the substrate and the layer of insulating material. 52.The electronic system of claim 48, wherein the transmission linesinclude the layered film of the first nickel iron compound and thesecond nickel iron compound.
 53. The electronic system of claim 52,wherein the first nickel iron compound is permalloy and the secondnickel iron compound is Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 54. The electronic system of claim 48,wherein the conductive lines include the layered film of the firstnickel iron compound and the second nickel iron compound.
 55. Theelectronic system of claim 54, wherein the first nickel iron compound ispermalloy and the second nickel iron compound is Ni₄₅Fe₅₅.
 56. Theelectronic system of claim 48, wherein the integrated circuit is amemory.
 57. An electronic system comprising: a processor; and anintegrated circuit coupled to the processor, the integrated circuitincluding: a first layer of insulating material above a substrate; anumber of shielding lines on the first layer of insulating material, theshielding lines being electrically conductive lines; a number oftransmission lines on the first layer of insulating material, the numberof transmission lines spaced between and parallel with the number ofelectrically conductive lines, wherein the number of transmission linesinclude a layered film of a high permeability material, the layered filmof a high permeability material being a layered permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅film; and a second layer of insulating material on the number oftransmission lines and the number of shielding lines.
 58. The electronicsystem of claim 57, wherein the first layer of insulating material isformed on a first conductive plane.
 59. The electronic system of claim58, wherein the system includes a second conductive plane formed on thesecond layer of insulating material.
 60. The electronic system of claim59, wherein the first and the second conductive planes have a thicknessof approximately 3 to 5 micrometers (μm).
 61. The electronic system ofclaim 59, wherein the second conductive plane is coupled to a powersupply.
 62. The electronic system of claim 57, wherein the substrateincludes an insulator material.
 63. The electronic system of claim 57,wherein the number of shielding lines include a layered permalloy andNi₄₅Fe₅₅ film.
 64. The electronic system of claim 63, wherein the numberof transmission lines having a layered permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ filmincludes a layered permalloy and Ni₄₅Fe₅₅ film on at least two sides ofthe number of transmission lines, the two sides being on opposingsurfaces and at least one of the two side being adjacent to thesubstrate.
 65. The electronic system of claim 57, wherein the integratedcircuit is a memory.
 66. The electronic system of claim 65, wherein thememory is a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM).